Wood-burning stove Berlin

Key points at a glance

Berlin is divided into sweeping districts, and each property has exactly one responsible district chimney sweep. For owner-occupiers, IBB offers a low-interest loan of up to 100.000 EUR per residential unit under "Wohnraum Modernisieren", which also covers the renewal of heating technology. In Berlin's inner-city priority area for air quality, new buildings may not use wood as a fuel; there is no blanket ban for existing wood-burning stoves.

Funding in Berlin

Federal funding

Nationwide funding for pellet stoves remains unchanged. Details: Wood-burning stove Germany

Berlin state funding

For private owner-occupiers, "IBB Wohnraum Modernisieren" is the relevant programme. It funds, among other things, the renewal of heating technology, individual energy-efficiency measures such as thermal insulation and window replacement, and general repairs. The loan is up to 100.000 EUR per residential unit, depending on eligible costs. A minimum equity contribution of 7,5 % of costs is required. For owner-occupied residential property, a land charge can be waived for loans of up to 50.000 EUR.

The programme can be combined with other public funding, such as KfW funding, provided that the total of all public funding does not exceed the eligible costs. Apply via the IBB customer portal before work begins.

The two programmes "IBB Energetische Gebäudesanierung – Einzelmaßnahmen" and "– Effizienzhaus" offer higher loan amounts and an interest-rate reduction of up to 0,2 % and 0,6 % p.a. respectively on the KfW interest rate, but are aimed exclusively at municipal and private housing companies, housing cooperatives, landlords and investors. Private owner-occupiers cannot use these two programmes.

Tax bonus § 35c EStG

Alternative to KfW funding: deduct 20 % of the costs, up to 40.000 EUR per property, only for water-bearing systems.

Legal obligations

Berliner Bauordnung (BauO Bln)

Connecting a wood-burning stove to an existing, suitable chimney is generally possible without planning permission under § 61 BauO Bln (building projects not requiring a procedure). § 62 BauO Bln (exemption from approval) concerns a separate simplified procedure for other building projects. Depending on its design, the construction of a new chimney requires a planning permission procedure or a simplified procedure. The responsible authority is the Bezirksbauaufsicht of the relevant district.

Since 1984, a planning requirement has applied to the densely built-up inner-city districts, covering around 100 km² and defined in the Berliner Flächennutzungsplan: new buildings there may use only fuels whose pollutant emissions are no higher than those of heating oil EL. Since wood has significantly higher pollutant emissions, wood as a fuel is effectively excluded for new buildings in this area; the requirement is incorporated directly into planning permission through the development plans. This restriction does not apply to existing buildings or outside the priority area.

1. BImSchV, KÜO and GEG

Nationwide rules on deadlines, limit values and obligations: Wood-burning stove Germany

Chimney sweeps in Berlin

How to find your responsible district chimney sweep: enter your address or postcode at schornsteinfeger-berlin.de/schornsteinfegersuche or nationwide at schornsteinfeger.de.

Air quality in Berlin

Since 2004, Berlin has complied citywide with the permitted annual mean PM10 limit value (40 µg/m³) and, since 2016, with the permitted number of daily limit-value exceedances. As long as these values are complied with, more extensive operating bans or retrofit obligations for CE-marked, standards-compliant wood-burning stoves are not legally permissible; there is therefore no blanket ban for existing systems.

Instead, the Senatsverwaltung für Mobilität, Verkehr, Klimaschutz und Umwelt offers a free further-training course: the Berliner Ofenführerschein, a 90-minute online seminar on low-emission, efficient heating with wood, free for the first 5.000 participants, then 39 EUR, voluntary and without legal obligation.

For new buildings in the inner-city priority area for air quality, the binding restriction in the "Legal obligations" section applies: wood as a fuel is effectively excluded there.

Relevant bodies

Frequently asked questions

Which chimney sweep is responsible for my Berlin flat?

Every Berlin address belongs to a fixed sweeping district. Find the responsible district chimney sweep at schornsteinfeger-berlin.de/schornsteinfegersuche; entering the address or postcode is sufficient.

Which IBB programme applies to me as a private homeowner?

"IBB Wohnraum Modernisieren", not the "IBB Energetische Gebäudesanierung" programmes. These are available only to landlords, investors and housing companies.

Can I always operate my wood-burning stove in Berlin?

Yes, if it meets the 1.-BImSchV limit values and is CE-marked. As long as Berlin complies with the statutory air-quality limit values, there is no blanket operating ban.

Can I install a wood-burning stove in a new building in central Berlin?

Only with restrictions: in the priority area for air quality, new buildings may not use fuels with pollutant emissions higher than heating oil EL, so wood is effectively excluded. Check in advance with the responsible district building authority or against the development plan.